Technology assessment framework for precision health applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Sazzad Hussain ◽  
David Silvera-Tawil ◽  
Geremy Farr-Wharton
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Precision Health ◽  
Health Applications

Abstract Objective Established and emerging technologies—such as wearable sensors, smartphones, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence—are shaping positive healthcare models and patient outcomes. These technologies have the potential to become precision health (PH) innovations. However, not all innovations meet regulatory standards or have the required scientific evidence to be used for health applications. In response, an assessment framework was developed to facilitate and standardize the assessment of innovations deemed suitable for PH. Methods A scoping literature review undertaken through PubMed and Google Scholar identified approximately 100 relevant articles. These were then shortlisted (n = 12) to those that included specific metrics, criteria, or frameworks for assessing technologies that could be applied to the PH context. Results The proposed framework identified nine core criteria with subcriteria and grouped them into four categories for assessment: technical, clinical, human factors, and implementation. Guiding statements with response options and recommendations were used as metrics against each criterion. Conclusion The proposed framework supports health services, health technology innovators, and researchers in leveraging current and emerging technologies for PH innovations. It covers a comprehensive set of criteria as part of the assessment process of these technologies.

Mobile Health Applications to Support COVID-19 Self-management: Review and Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahar Khenarinezhad ◽  
Ehsan Ghazanfari Savadkoohi ◽  
Leila Shahmoradi
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Complete Information ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Health Applications

Aim: During the epidemic and with an increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) disease prevalence, emergency care is essential to help people stay informed and undertake self-management measures to protect their health. One of these self-management procedures is the use of mobile apps in health. Mobile health (mHealth) applications include mobile devices in collecting clinical health data, sharing healthcare information for practitioners and patients, real-time monitoring of patient vital signs, and the direct provision of care (via mobile telemedicine). Mobile apps are increasing to improve health, but before healthcare providers can recommend these applications to patients, they need to be sure the apps will help change patients' lifestyles. Method: A search was conducted systematically using the keywords "Covid-19," "Coronavirus," "Covid-19, and Self-management" at the "Apple App Store". Then we evaluated the apps according to MARS criteria in May 2020. Results: A total of 145 apps for COVID-19 self-management were identified, but only 32 apps met our inclusion criteria after being assessed. The overall mean MARS score was 2.9 out of 5, and more than half of the apps had a minimum acceptability score (range 2.5-3.9). The "who academy" app received the highest functionality score. Who Academy, Corona-Care and First Responder COVID-19 Guide had the highest scores for behavior change. Conclusion: Our findings showed that few apps meet the quality, content, and functionality criteria for Covid-19 self-management. Therefore, developers should use evidence-based medical guidelines in creating mobile health applications so that, they can provide comprehensive and complete information to both patients and healthcare provider.

The Functionality, Quality and Consistency with International Guidelines of Asthma Mobile Health Applications: Protocol for a Systematic Review. (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Billy Robinson ◽  
Enying Gong ◽  
Brian Oldenburg ◽  
Katharine See
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Airflow Limitation ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Gina Guidelines ◽  
Mhealth Apps ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder defined clinically as a combination of typical respiratory symptoms, and significant variable reversible airflow limitation. In addition to pharmacotherapy, a key aspect of asthma management is empowering patients to manage their condition and recognise and respond to asthma exacerbations. Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) represent a potential medium through which patients could improve the ability to self-manage their asthma. Few studies have conducted a systematic evaluation of both free and paid asthma mobile applications for the quality and functionality of the apps using a validated tool and to our knowledge none have systematically assessed these applications for the quality of information that they provide compared to available international best practice guidelines. This represents the first study that will undertake both of these evaluations for all available mHealth Apps in Australia targeted towards adult asthmatics. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines represent a regularly updated guideline based on reviews of the available scientific literature by an international panel of experts. This review will examine the functionality and quality of available asthma mobile health applications and the consistency of these available applications with recommendations from the GINA guidelines. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of adult-targeted asthma mobile health applications on the Australian market. As part of this review the potential for an mHealth app to improve asthma self-management and the overall quality of the application will be evaluated, using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) framework, and the quality of the information within an app, using the current GINA guidelines as a reference, will be assessed. METHODS A methodological stepwise approach was taken in creating this review. First the most recent GINA guidelines were independently reviewed by two authors to identify key recommendations that could feasibly be incorporated into a mHealth app. These identified recommendations were then compared to a previously developed asthma application assessment framework. A modified assessment framework was created, ensuring all of these identified recommendations were included. Two popular App stores were then reviewed to identify potential mHealth Apps and then a screening process based on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria occurred to establish what mHealth Apps would be evaluated. Application evaluation then occurred. Technical information was obtained from publicly available information on the application store or within the app itself. The next step was to perform an application quality assessment using the validated MARS framework to objectively determine the quality of the application. Application functionality was then assessed using the IMS Institute for Health Informatics Functionality Scoring system. Finally, the mHealth applications will be assessed using a checklist that we have developed based on what was identified from the international GINA guidelines. RESULTS To date, funding has been received for the project from the Respiratory Department at Northern Health, Victoria. Three reviewers have been recruited to systematically evaluate the applications. Results for this study are expected by the end of this year. CONCLUSIONS Nil as protocol CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO 269894

VP47 Health Technology Assessment Of Intensive Care Ventilators For Pediatric Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 168-169
Author(s):  
Francesco Faggiano ◽  
Martina Andellini ◽  
Federico Nocchi ◽  
Carlo Capussotto ◽  
Francesca Sabusco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Context Analysis ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy

INTRODUCTION:The purpose of the study was to evaluate different type and manufacturers of intensive care ventilators in order to support the healthcare decision-making process about the choice to adopt the best available technology for ventilation of pediatric patient in intensive care units at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital.METHODS:The technology assessment process was developed by using a new methodology, the Decision-oriented Health Technology Assessment (HTA) (DoHTA), a new implementation of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) CoreModel, integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (1). A literature review was carried out to gather evidence on safety and overall effectiveness of different kind of intensive care ventilators, with several ventilation modalities and strategies. The synthesis of scientific evidence, and results of the specific context analysis resulted in the definition of components of the decisional hierarchy structure, consisting in detailed characteristics of the technology's performances covering the aspects on feasibility, safety, efficacy, costs, and organizational and technical characteristics of the technology. A subgroup of these indicators has been included in a checklist form for the evaluation of different type and manufacturers of intensive care ventilators, each of which was tested in three independent runs performed in three different departments. In addition, an economic evaluation was also carried out.RESULTS:Preliminary DoHTA results showed that the domains with the highest impacts within the evaluation are safety and clinical effectiveness (34.8 percent and 25.7 percent, respectively) followed by organizational aspects, technical characteristics of technology and costs and economic evaluation. The final objective is to define the alternatives’ ranking through a comparison between alternative technologies’ performances.CONCLUSIONS:The technology assessment project allowed to identify strengths and limits of the most recent intensive care ventilator’ models in the specific contexts of use by involving all health professionals interested, and eventually identify the best option for the hospital.

Establishing Project Feasibility for Emerging Technology Projects: An Independent Engineer’s Perspective

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Demme
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The Status ◽  
Alternate Fuels ◽  
Specific Project

Technology suppliers, waste system managers and project developers across North America are endeavoring to find and implement new approaches to converting the energy in waste to electricity or alternate fuels. These entities, as well as potential financiers and communities that might benefit from these emerging technologies, often retain an independent engineer to assist in establishing the status and risks of the technology itself or the feasibility a specific project that has been proposed. Although independent engineering assessments are a well-established element of the non-recourse finance process, individuals and organizations new to the development process are often unfamiliar with the usefulness and content of these assessments. In the context of emerging technology-based projects, this paper will provide an overview of the role of an independent engineer in the development process, explain the typical assessment process, and discuss the content of a typical independent engineering report (“IE Report”).

scholarly journals Self-management mobile apps for people with epilepsy: A systematic review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Alzamanan Sr ◽  
LIM KHENG SEANG ◽  
Maizatul Akmar Ismail ◽  
Norjihan Abdul Ghani
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Keywords Epilepsy ◽  
Treatment Management ◽  
Mobile Health Applications ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy ◽  
Health Applications

BACKGROUND Patients with epilepsy (PWE) are motivated to manage and cope with their disorder by themselves, that is, self-management (SM). Mobile health applications (apps) have multiple features that show a huge potential to improve self-management of individuals with chronic disorders such as epilepsy. OBJECTIVE This study aims to review all available free apps related to the self-management of PWE and to determine the self-management domains included in these apps METHODS Systematic reviews were performed for all apps by searching in iOS and Android app databases using the keywords “epilepsy” and “seizure.” RESULTS We identified 22 epilepsy SM apps:6 were found in iOS, 7 in Android, and 9 in both.Of the 11 domains of self-management, seizure tracking and seizure response features were available in most Apps(N=22 and N=19respectively), followed by treatment management(N=17) and medication adherence(N=15).Three apps (Epilepsy Journal, Epilepsy Tool Kit and EpiDiary) were installed more than 10,000 times, with features focused specifically on a few domains (including treatment management, medication adherence, health-care communication, and seizure tracking). Two Apps had >6 SM domains (Young epilepsy and E-Epilepsy Inclusion) but both with lower installation rates (5000+ and 100+ respectively). CONCLUSIONS There were mobile health applications to improve self-management in epilepsy in both iOS and Android platform, but the installation rate of most apps was low. The self-management features in various Apps were different and common features included seizure tracking and seizure response.

scholarly journals Designing and assessing a digital, discipline-specific literacy assessment tool

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Paul Graham Kebble
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Face Validity ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Test Design ◽  
Literacy Assessment ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Test Taking Strategies ◽  
Multiple Languages

<p>The C-Test as a tool for assessing language competence has been in existence for nearly 40 years, having been designed by Professors Klein-Braley and Raatz for implementation in German and English. Much research has been conducted over the ensuing years, particularly in regards to reliability and construct validity, for which it is reported to perform reliably and in multiple languages. The author engaged in C-Test research in 1995 focusing on concurrent, predictive and face validity. Through this research, the author developed an appreciation for the C-Test assessment process particularly with the multiple cognitive and linguistic test-taking strategies required. When digital technologies became accessible, versatile and societally integrated, the author believed the C-Test would function well in this environment. This conviction prompted a series of investigations into the development and assessment of a digital C-Test design to be utilised in multiple linguistic settings. This paper describes the protracted design process, concluding with the publication of mobile apps.</p>

scholarly journals "The Art of the Achievable": An Examination of Heritage Assessment Practice at the Department of Conservation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Kayla Wilson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Critical Realism ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Central Research ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Assessment Practice ◽  
Assigned Value

<p>This dissertation examines heritage assessment at the New Zealand Department of Conservation. It explores the heritage assessment process through two central research questions: ‘What is the state of current heritage assessment at the Department of Conservation?’ and ‘What place and form could heritage assessments have and take in future practice at the Department of Conservation?’ Responding to a gap in the literature and lack of critical analysis of the heritage assessment procedure in the New Zealand context, the research considers the ways in which heritage assessment is carried out and examines heritage assessment as a tool through which heritage is understood and assigned value and significance. The timeliness of this work is highlighted by the currently few existing evaluations providing a critical analysis of the heritage assessment procedure in New Zealand.  This research employs an interdisciplinary theoretical framework developed from the literature of heritage studies and its related fields, in particular history and archaeology. This study is framed with reference to the postmodern theoretical paradigm of ‘authorised heritage discourse’ and critical realism, and employs a mixed method approach to the research, and employs documentary analysis and interviews with current staff working with historic heritage at the Department of Conservation.  The main finding emerging from this research is that heritage assessment is an essential, if not pivotal, but under-utilised element of heritage management, and that appropriate outcomes for heritage can only be reached through a more effective heritage assessment framework. The dissertation concludes that currently the Department of Conservation heritage assessment framework fails to achieve this to a suitable standard, makes several recommendations for change, and argues that it is only by addressing the situation DOC will be able to deliver maximum outcomes for heritage in an increasingly resource-constrained environment – and continue to accomplish sustainable heritage management, what one respondent called ‘the art of the achievable’.</p>

scholarly journals A Review of the Applications, Environmental Release, and Remediation Technologies of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8117
Author(s):  
Jay N. Meegoda ◽  
Jitendra A. Kewalramani ◽  
Brian Li ◽  
Richard W. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
The Body ◽  
Environmental Matrices ◽  
Considerable Uncertainty ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Treatment Train ◽  
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ◽  
The Impact

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are pollutants that have demonstrated a high level of environmental persistence and are very difficult to remediate. As the body of literature on their environmental effects has increased, so has regulatory and research scrutiny. The widespread usage of PFAS in industrial applications and consumer products, complicated by their environmental release, mobility, fate, and transport, have resulted in multiple exposure routes for humans. Furthermore, low screening levels and stringent regulatory standards that vary by state introduce considerable uncertainty and potential costs in the environmental management of PFAS. The recalcitrant nature of PFAS render their removal difficult, but existing and emerging technologies can be leveraged to destroy or sequester PFAS in a variety of environmental matrices. Additionally, new research on PFAS remediation technologies has emerged to address the efficiency, costs, and other shortcomings of existing remediation methods. Further research on the impact of field parameters such as secondary water quality effects, the presence of co-contaminants and emerging PFAS, reaction mechanisms, defluorination yields, and the decomposition products of treatment technologies is needed to fully evaluate these emerging technologies, and industry attention should focus on treatment train approaches to improve efficiency and reduce the cost of treatment.

OP28 Partnership Working To Inform Patient Engagement In Health Technology Assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 11-12
Author(s):  
Lindsay Lockhart ◽  
Jennifer Dickson ◽  
Anne Lee ◽  
Martin Coombes
Keyword(s):  
Public Involvement ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Guidance Document ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
Marketing Information ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

Introduction:The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) works in partnership with patient groups and carers to capture their experiences to help inform decisions on new medicines. To better inform their participation in the SMC assessment process, patient groups highlighted a need for information from submitting pharmaceutical companies about the new medicine under review.Methods:We established a multi-stakeholder short life working group (SLWG) to explore how to meet these needs. The group comprised members of the SMC Public Involvement Network (PIN) Advisory Group, representatives of two pharmaceutical companies and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries, and the SMC public involvement team. The main outputs were the development of a new Summary Information for Submitting Patient Groups (SIP) form and supporting guidance document. The SIP form completed by the submitting pharmaceutical company is then shared by SMC's Public Involvement Team, to assist submitting patient groups.Results:The SIP form was implemented in June 2016, and following positive evaluation, became essential for inclusion with the pharmaceutical company's new medicine submission in June 2017. Feedback has been positive, with patient groups reporting that the form includes valuable information that they may not otherwise have been able to access including the positioning of the medicine in the treatment pathway, information on dosage, administration and side-effects. The form is also completed in plain English without overly technical or marketing information. Company representatives who have completed the form state that it provides clear information on the licensed indication, enables accessible scientific evidence for patients and families/carers, and allows them to give accurate and balanced information about the medicine.Conclusions:Partnership working with key stakeholders has enabled SMC to provide improved information to submitting patient groups. A better understanding of a new medicine may in turn allow patient groups to participate more effectively in the HTA.

UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN PREVENTION OF DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Anung Ahadi Pradana ◽  
Junaiti Sahar ◽  
Henny Permatasari
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Health Applications

Depression is a problem that often occurs in the older adults population. The use of technology in the implementation of health services has succeeded in increasing the effectiveness and quality of providing health services to patients. Several mobile apps that have been available have the potential to improve services for people with depression. The purpose of this study was to determine the use of information technology in preventing depression in older adults. This study uses a simple literature study method based on a specific theme from several databases including the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), ProQuest, and SAGE between 2014 and 2020. 27 journal articles that met the inclusion criteria passed the screening process using the PRISMA diagram. Research showed positive results in the use of technology for depressive conditions experienced by older adults. The importance of developing health applications in order to keep up with the conditions needs to be the attention of health workers. Easy, inexpensive, and attractive health applications can increase public curiosity and participation in the health sector.

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